Automatic gas cut-off



Dec. 15. 1925-` n F; DzlERzE-NGA AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-OFFv Filed Jan.' e. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 m GAT N Rv mm z. K N m ,F 2 a. g A MG fils.

Patented Dec. 145, 192.*'1l

UNITED STATES FRANK T'JZIER'ZENGA, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC GAS CUT-0FF.

Application mea January e, 1925. serial No. 903.

To all whom it may concer/a.' v

Be it known that I, FILANK DZIERENGA, citizen of Czechoslovakia, and resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gas'Cut-Offs, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates tQ automatic gas cut-offs and has a particular reference to thermostatic devices adapted to close the gas admitting valve if the flame becomes extinguished. l

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic device which could be relied upon to stop the flow of -gas to the burner in case the flame becomes accidentally eX- tinguished, thereby preventing a danger Of gas poisoning or even explosions. For thispurpose I am using a thermostatic element composed of a spiral made of two metals with different temperature coelicients. -I connect this spiral with a valve or a cock. in such manner, that the movement of this spiral, caused by the unequal reac- ,tion to the temperature changesl by the metals composing this spiral, closes the valve when the device is cooled oft' and keeps it open as long as it is kept hot from the burnin flame.

I further provide a mechanism whereby the valve may be opened when the mechanisrn is cold, by locking `the thermostatically controlled closing mechanism, and I also provide a mechanism to release said locking device when the mechanism becomes heated from the flame. i

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specication and drawing thumb head 29. The collar rests against a in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional'elevation of my cut.- ot, Fig. 2 is an outside view of same, Fig'. 3 is a crosssection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4; is a View of the valve gear, Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of valve mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the valve, Fig'. 7 1s a sectional elevation of a modified construct1on,`F1g. 8 .1s another view of same,

l Fig. 9 is a detailed view of releasing mechanism, Fig. 1() is a view of the releasing key, Fig. 11 is a view of the thermostatic element, Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of a modified device, Fig. 13 is an elevation of same, and Fig. 14V is a crosssection of same taken on the line 111-14 of FigalQ.

My automatic gas cut-oft' consists of a burner 1 with a flame tip 2. The other end of the burner is provided with threads 3 adapted to fit a gas pipe 4. A valve fitted in the rear portion of the. burner and is provided with a flat upper portion or head 6. This head has lugs 7 adapted to touch the post 8 which thereby limits the movements of the valve. The central apertu1e9 inthe valve is placed in such manner cam 13 has a lug.17 adapted to bear againstv A.the surface of the gear 15 thereby preventing this cam from turning in this direction. It can be turned, however, in the opposite direction lagainst the tension of a spring 18 placed between the lug 19 of the cam and the gear 15.

Aratchet segment 2O is attached to the top of the valve 5 and is in mesh with a corresponding ratchet 21 on a gear 22. This gear has a central shaft 23 placed coaxi'ally with the valve 5 and mounted rotatively in its upper portion (bearing 24). It is provided with a cone 25 in contact with a release rod 26. This rod can slide through an aperture in the post 8 and through an end plate 27 attached to the rear end of the burner 1. rlhe outside end of the release rod 2G is provided with a collar 28 and a spring 30 placed in a partly closed cylindrical chamber 31 attached to the plate 27.

By pressing against the thumb head 29 the end of the rod 26 forces the cone 25 up against .the tension of the spring 32 attached with one end to the top of the post 8 and pressing against the central portion of the gear 22 around the shaft 23. This movement. brings the gear 22 out of engagement with the gear 15.

The collar 16 is retained in its place by means of a stationary collar 33'fastened to the burner 1 by means of a screw 34.

A thermostatic spiral spring is placed coaXially with the burnerl and is made of an ing a high coeilicient of expansion due to vtemperature variations), and of an inner layer 39 made of some metal having a 10W temperature coefficient. rI` his arrangement causes the spring to wind itselt` with the 1n crease in temperature and to become unwound when the temperature decreases.

The left end otthe spring 35 1s attached to the rotating colla-r 16 by means of a screw 36. The other end is attached to a stationary collar 37 fastened to the burner with a screw 38, with a screw '72.

The right end of the burner is attached tc a front plate 39 provided with apertures 40 1n order to admit the hot air from the burner to the thermostatic spring 35. A

, shell 41 encloses the burner and the mechanism. It may be provided with a side chamber 42 for the gear 22. A funnel 43 is attached to the iront end of the shell or casing 41 with a vent 44 for the ail` and provides a mixing chamber for the gaswith the outside air.

A locking link 45 is attached to the collar 16 on a pin 46. A spring 46 tends to push this link against the gear 15.

The end of this pin extends through a Slot 47 in the casing. 41 and can move in this slot with the movement of the spring 35 and collar 16 with the gear 15. The locking pin takes posiiion'45 when the spring is Cold The locklng mechanism consists of a wedge shapedcam 48 adapted to press on the locking link 45 and -attached to a 1ock-- ing rod 49. This rod is'placed inside of a guiding tube 50 passing through the rear plate 27 and isprovided with a collai1 51 and a thumb head 52. A spring 53 is placed between the collar and the tube 50 and is enclosed in a housing 54. i

'The operation of my device is as follows. v With the spring 35 cold, the locking link 45 takes a position 45 (Fig. 2). the valve being turned to aclosed position Fi g. 5. By pressing against the thumb head 52 of the locking device, the cam 43 willforce the link 45 up the slot 47, winding the spring until the link reaches the side pocket 55 and gets wedged there in a position 45 under' action of the spring 35 (the spring is -shown right handwound). In thisposition the valve is turned so that theupper lug 7 strikes the post` 8, and the central aperture 9 coincides vwith the aperture 10 in the body of the burner 1 (Fig. 6). The gas will then i pass through the burner to the tip and may to.

be ignited at the mouth ofthe funnel 43.

It should be noted rthat the movement of the valve 5 is accomplished through' gears 15 -heated from the burner@ and moves the link 45 out ot' the pocket 55. The spring 4G then pushes the link into the slot 47 into a position 45. From this position the link will move up the slot until it finally reaches tho extreme position 45.

From the examination of the Fig. 6 it may bc seen that the cam 13 is free to move up out of the slot 12, when the valve is in a working position as shown. The gear 15 will accordingly turn further under action ct the spring 35 until a thermostatic balance is established with the locking link 45 in a position 45.

The gear 22 will also turn, the ratchet teeth 21 sliding over teeth 20, their taper being in the direction of movement, and snapping back underaction of the spring Should the iiame at the burner become extinguished, however, the spring will cool oi and will unwind itself,.rotating the gear 15,' also the gear 22 and the valve 5 until the lower lug 7 strikes the postv 8, with the aperture 9 out of register with the aperture 10. The gas low will be then stopped, and the locking pin moved to some intermediate position 45. The further movement will be then stopped, the spring 35 remaining under tension.

In order to set the burner in operation again it is necessary to push against the releasing rod 26 raising the gear 22 out of mesh with the gear 15 and disconnecting the ratchet wheels 21 and 22. The spring 35", being thereby released, snaps to its extreme position to the lett, the cam '13 passing on the other side of the lugs 11 by swinging on the pin 14 against the tension of the spring 18. The locking pin .tak'es position 45", and

between the teeth of the gear 22, so that the teeth of the gears 15 and 22 may remain in mesh While the ratchet teeth are being disengaged. It is evident, however, that such an arrangement is notnecessary, and the deviceA is operative even when the gears are fully *disengagedl by the action -of the release rod 26. l

- rI`he gear and ratchet mechanism is added in order to makethe thermostaticdevice quickacting, as the valve is closed immediately after the spring begins to lcool off, or,

in practice, with' a proper-ly constructed dcy vice, in less than a second.

It is possible, however, to simplify the mechanism, when such rapidityof action is not required.- Fig. 7 shows such a modified -mechanism- Here the spring 32 presses directly againstthe valve 9, serving only to keep this. valvein place. The gears and ratchetsareomitted, andthe lugs ll engage ner to the stationary collar 37and Withvthe other tothe rotating collar 16..

Instead of a-singlelocking cam 48 tvvo cams 58 and 59 maybe employed, attached yto the individual locking rods (SO'and- G1 with collars 62 and 63 and with retrieving springs 64. The thumb heads are omitted, and in order to push the locking link 45 into an open locked position 45., both rods must be pushed at once and to the same extent, and this can be accomplished only by mean:` of a special key 65. The legs 66 ot thiskey (Fig. 10) are made to .t exactly into the openings in the housings 54.

It is` easy to see, that with this arrangement the valve cannot be opened, if only one of the lrods is pushed. For, instance, if the lower rod 60 is pushed only, then the link 45 Will be moved only a short distance and will not reach the pocket 55. If the upper rod 61 onlyis pushed, it Will move above the link 45 Without any effect on it. vAnd only when the keyv 65 is used, will both rods be moved atonce, presenting an even cam surface, the same as if there Was one single cam, a's in Fig. 1.

' This arrangement makes. the lburner fool proof against being used or operated by unauthorized persons, 4thereby adding to the safety of the device.

The burner in the form as described is best suited for use With stoves, ranges, furnaces etc. For gas lamps a simpler device may be used, as shown in Fig. 12.

This lighting burner consists of a tubular body 67 with threads' 3 at the lower'end adapted to fit a gas pipe 4. The'upper` end is provided with an inverted conical valve seat 68 adapted to ita conical valve 69 with a burner tip 2. A screvv 70 With a helical spring 71 tends to keep the valve 69 inengagement with the body 67. The valve 69 is provided with an aperture 7 3 in line with an aperture 74 in the body 67, the latter aperture being elongated as shown in Fig. 14. A'Ihe burner tip 2 is provided with a plurailty of small holes 75 for spreading the flame in a fan' like shape.

'Ihe base of the body7 67 is provided with a iange 76 and a stationary ring 77 which may be clamped in any position on the body 67 with a screw 78. A thermostatic spiral spring 79 is attached With one end to the ring Wegapn orscreivl 80) and'to the valve GSl-n'iITtYie other, the end of the spring fitting into a slot 81. A housing or shell 82 is.

- fitted over he spring, being clamped to the stationary ring with asorew 83.

y A locking link 84 is pivotally attached to the valve 69 on a pin 85 and extends outside through a slot 47. `The end of the'link 84 is provided with a thumb head or ball' 86,

which also serves as a Weight, tending 'to rkeep the link down. A pocket 55 is provided above the slot47 for the link 84.

;The operationof this device is as olloivs.`

lilith the spring 79 cold, the link 84 remains `"in the extreme right position (provided. that the metal ivith high temperature coeiiicicnt is on the outside of tlie-spring 79, and a metalwith 10W temperature coefficient 87-on the inside, and that the spring is wound lett hand, as shown). 'The valve then remains closed, the hole 73 moving to a position 73 (Fig. 14), ont of register with the hole'74. In order to-'open the valve the link 84 is moved against the tension ot the spring 79 and then raised into the pocket ,55, remainingl pocket by the spring tension. The hole 73 takes thenposit-ion against the hole 74, as

.iper Fig'. 14, the-gas will How throngh the valve, and

The heat from the flame will cause the spring 7,9 to wind around theburner, lthe outside metal expanding more rapidly `than the inside layer 87.' The pressure on lthe may be then ignited at theburner there being pressed against one side of the lockingpin 84 Will be then released, and the Weight 86 Willcau'use it to drop into the slot ,47. Furtherv lmovement of the'spring will move the link slot 47.'

farther tov the left .in the As vsoon as theflame extinguished, the

resultant cooling and,.contraction of the outer layer ofthe spring 79 Will move the link `to the right Valong the slot 47jwith the valve 69, until the hole 73 comes out of register with the hole 74, taking inoperative position 73. The ovv otgas will be then stopped, even if the ordinary, valve' somewhere on the gas pipe 4 was not closed manually.

It is easy to see, that, the hole 74 being oblong, the gas How Will not be stopped With f the valve rotation to the left, and onl7 when the valve rotates to the right with the link 84 moving to the vright yfrom the pocket 55, will the valve rbe closed.

Important advantages of my automatic valve Vare that it operates quickly 'and automatically, can beset in the operating posi-I tion quickly by 'simply movi-ng the link into the locking pocket, is simple in construction, and can be easily ladjusted for different Working conditions.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic` gasstopper, the combination with a burner, a valve in a coopera* vtive relation with said burner, a spring con- -link operatively connected with said valve and said spring, a shell around said burner, a slot in said shell for said link, sald slot being varranged in the line of movement ofi,Y

said link iindery action of said spring, 'a locking pocket connected with said slot, said link being adapted to be placed in said locking pocket when said Valve is opened, means to pocket when said being attached to said burner, an operative connection between the other end oflsaid spring and'said valve, a locking link-in a cooperative relation with' said valve and said spring, a shell enclosing' said burner, a slot Iin said shell for said link, a 'pocket in said slot for said link, said pocket being located so that when 'said link is locked init, said valre is opened, and ineans'to releasel said link when said spring becomes liot.v

3. In an automatic gas stopper, the coinbination with a burner, a valve in a cooperative relation. with said burner, a biinetallic spring encircling said burner, said spring consisting of two metals of different teinperature coefficients7 an operative connection between said spring and said valve, saidspring being adapted to close said valve when said burner is cold, a locking link in a cooperative relation with said spring, a shell enclosing said burner, and provided with a slot for said link, a locking pocket in said slot for said link, said spring being adapted tokeep said link locked in said pocket when said burner is cold,.the valve being adapted to be opened when said link is locked iii said pocket, means to releasevsaid link when said spring becomes liot, and means to keep said valve open Wliilejsaid spring is maintained-` hot' by said burner.

Signed at New York in the countyof New York and State of New York Januarv A. D. 1925.. I

FRANK nziERZENGA. 

